How to Use a Cold Frame

Crops and vegetables grown in a cold frame tend to be stronger and hardier, continuing to grow long after they’d normally rot or die. So, with the right care and attention, there’s no reason you can’t enjoy the fruits of your labour way past the growing season. Caesar salad with Christmas dinner, anyone?

Spring

During the spring, a cold frame will maintain a temperature that is 5 to 10 degrees warmer than the outdoor temperature. If the ground is frozen and unsuitable for growing, there’s no need to wait for the frost to pass. Simply place a cold frame over a vegetable plot a few weeks before sowing to warm up the soil and create the perfect growing conditions for marigolds, strawberries, and other plants.

Autumn

Autumn is the time when most gardeners harvest their vegetables, but with a cold frame you can leave them be. Cold frames will keep the soil dry and soft to prevent vegetables from rotting and easily dig them up. Packing the cold frame with dry leaves is an excellent way to increase the level of warmth and insulation for late-cropping vegetables, such as lettuce, radishes, and carrots.

Summer

If you’re using a cold frame over a vegetable plot, you can open the lid during the day to prevent crops overheating and close it at night when the temperature falls. Lean to cold frames, which have shelves for potted plants, can be used at the start of the summer to create an ideal microclimate for heat loving plants, such as chillies, tomatoes, and cucumbers.

Winter

When winter comes around, most growers give up the ghost and hang up their gloves. The beauty of a cold frame is that you can continue to grow overwintering plants and crops. Parsnips, leeks, kale, cabbage – even hardy lettuces, such as lamb’s leaf and claytonia – can be grown long into the winter when protected from the frost. Cold frames are also great for protecting dormant plants until they’re ready to shoot again come spring.

Large Lean To Cold Frame

• Apex roof gives you extra space for taller growing plants.
• 2 openable lids to easily regulate the temperature.
• Drainage holes prevent rain or snow accumulating on roof.
• Slatted shelves and base aid ventilation and allow for easy drainage.
• Shelves are removable to accommodate tall growing plants.
• Removable base, so you can place it over a bed and grow ground crops.
• UV-stabilised polycarbonate windows to protect from harmful UV rays.
• Light diffusing, so plants receive a higher level of sunlight.
• Positioned on all sides of frame to provide maximum sunlight.
• 2 front doors allow you to easily access your plants.
• Latch to easily lock door and prevent it blowing open in the wind.
• Perfect for potted plants: tomatoes, cucumbers, chillies, and more.

Wooden Cold Frame

• Large single lid to easily access plants on the top shelf.
• Wider than the other cold frames to accommodate more plants per shelf.
• Drainage holes prevent rain or snow accumulating on the lid.
• Slatted shelves and base aid ventilation and allow for easy drainage.
• Shelves are removable to accommodate tall growing plants.
• Removable base, so you can place it over a bed and grow ground crops.
• UV-stabilised polycarbonate windows to protect from harmful UV rays.
• Light diffusing, so plants receive a higher level of sunlight.
• Positioned on all sides of frame to provide maximum sunlight.
• 2 front doors allow you to easily access your plants.
• Latch to easily lock door and prevent it blowing open in the wind.
• Perfect for potted plants: tomatoes, peppers, aubergines, and more.

Sleeper Cold Frame

• Great for placing over beds when growing root crops and plants.
• Large single lid to easily tend to your crops and plants.
• Drainage holes prevent rain or snow accumulating on the lid.
• UV-stabilised polycarbonate windows to protect from harmful UV rays.
• Light diffusing, so plants receive a higher level of sunlight.
• Positioned on all sides of frame to provide maximum sunlight.
• Lightweight to easily move around your garden throughout the year.
• Built-in ground supports can be pegged to improve wind-resistance.
• Perfect for growing cabbage, lettuce, strawberries, and more.